West Catholic Overcomes Twenty-One Point Deficit in Semis

After a close win a week ago against Portland, the Falcons of West Catholic entered Saturday’s semifinal one win away from their sixth straight trip to Ford Field. The four-time reigning Division 5 State Champions had a large scare early in this game, but they rallied by scoring twenty-five unanswered points to reach the title game yet again.

Frankenmuth started the scoring with an eight yard carry from Zack Jacobs to give them a 7-0 lead early on in the first quarter. He has a strong first half, as he scored a trio of touchdowns. In the second quarter, his pair of one yard touchdown runs expanded Frankenmuth’s lead to twenty-one points.

Just twenty-two seconds after Jacob’s third touchdown, West Catholic finally got on the board as Gaetano Vallone found Nick Dorato for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Just before half, Vallone once again found the end zone, though this time he used his legs. The two-point try was unsuccessful, but more importantly they had chipped away at the lead, trimming it to nine at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Vallone once again got on the scoring column for West Catholic. He tucked it and kept it for a one-yard touchdown run. Putz’s extra point was good, and the Eagles lead was down to two, 21-19.

With 5:17 left to play, Gaetano Vallone found the end zone for a fourth time, as his four yard run gave West Catholic the lead. Their two point try was unsuccessful, but they had finally gained the lead at 25-21.

With fifteen seconds to go, for the second straight week, Connor Bolthouse sealed the victory with an interception. This victory knocked off the 12-0 Eagles, and will send West Catholic to Ford Field next Saturday. The Falcons will be looking to win their fifth straight state championship, as they square off against Saginaw Swan Valley at 4:30. They will look to join East Grand Rapids (2006-2010) as the only program to win five straight state championships.